More and more agricultural entrepreneurs and food companies that process agricultural products are busy developing and implementing sustainable strategies. A good example is the Scandinavian dairy brand Arla, which has been committed to sustainable use of energy and reduction of CO2014 since XNUMX.2emissions from a sustainable approach.
Arla does this by organizing the operational management of the approximately 1.500 dairy farms more efficiently, so that the environment and the animals are spared as much as possible. However, Arla dairy is not the only company that wants extra sustainability. A large company such as Unilever and, of course, many private farmers are also committed to a more sustainable method of arable farming in order to save energy.
Sustainability can be done in many ways. The commonly used methods are nature management by farmers, parcel exchange in the region, the organic production of milk and grain without the use of crop protection products and/or fertilizers, circular agriculture, improving biodiversity, connecting natural areas and the use of sustainable energy by using making of solar panels and wind energy.
Advantage 1: reduction of CO2-emissions
It is known that sustainably organized farms consume considerably less harmful energy, mainly because they use solar energy and wind energy. As a result, these companies produce less greenhouse gases and the CO2emissions significantly lower. In view of the general climate objectives of the business community, this is of course an excellent development.
Advantage 2: cost savings in business operations
The farmers who choose to take measures to save energy save enormously in the long term on the fixed costs of their company. This applies, for example, to greenhouse horticulture, where a significant part of the operating costs goes into the energy supply.
However, even standard companies, with hefty stables and a lot of energy use, can save a considerable amount of money by installing solar panels and making better use of sustainable energy. energy (wind energy and solar energy). It is also wise to take a critical look at which energy supplier is most advantageous for you.
Advantage 3: nature benefits optimally
All the measures you take as a farmer to save energy are good for the environment. the CO2emissions are reduced, fewer chemicals end up in the soil and air and sustainable energy sources and fuels are used instead of fossil fuels.
A specific type of sustainable agriculture, which has been emerging in recent years and which is good for the environment, is so-called agroforestry. This is also called agroforestry and means that farmers combine arable farming, livestock or vegetable farming with planting trees or shrubs for sale. This approach ensures a lot of oxygen compensation and increases the resilience of the agricultural sector.